UV Skinz Review & Giveaway

If you've been reading my blog for a while now then you know how important sun protection is to me. If you're a new reader then I will quickly fill you in. When I was just 36 weeks pregnant I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. I didn't know exactly how bad it was at that time because I had to have surgery first but after all was said and done I ended up with stage 3a. Now, it could be worse of course, but there are only 4 stages to cancer. I was never a tanner, but I was also never an avid sunscreen user. I thought a tan was a "healthy" glow though, so I never prevented it from happening. It doesn't take much to get skin cancer so the best thing that you can do is protect yourself and your family.

Now that I have been through all that I have I make sure that I am extra careful with Elijah. We try to stay inside during the peak hours, I constantly use safe, all natural sunscreen (you need to be cautious about what kind of sunscreens you are using. Check out the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for safe sunscreens and information).

The one good thing (and I mean ONE, only!) about melanoma is that I have met a lot of wonderful people through online melanoma groups and social networking sites, one of those people happened to be the woman who started UV Skinz, Rhonda Sparks. 

Rhonda lost her 32 year old husband, Darren, to melanoma, just days after 9/11 in 2001. You can read Darren's story here on the UV Skinz website. Darren is survived by Rhonda and their 3 children. Rhonda made it her mission to raise awareness about the disease and get kids (and everyone!) covered everywhere. 

Rhonda was nice enough to send me a baby swim shirt, swim trunks, and a sun hat for myself to try out. I was really excited to get this stuff because I didn't have any swimwear with sun protection for Eli, and I have never had anything with sun protection for myself.  All UV Skinz clothing has UPF 50+ sun protection, that means they block 98% of the suns harmful UV rays. It's all day protection that doesn't wear off, and it's 100% safe unlike some of the mainstream sunscreens that are out there. UV Skinz + an all natural safe sunscreen from the EWG's top 10 list = bulletproof sun protection.

The first thing that I noticed when I received these items was how soft the swim shirt was. Elijah is sensitive to what he wears and you will frequently see him pulling on stuff that he doesn't find comfortable (such as shirts with heavy transfers that make the inside of the shirt stiff). Elijah was totally fine wearing the swim shirt and didn't try to pull it off at all! I especially love that there are no seams inside the shirt to dig into Eli, they are all flat locked on the outside.

The swim shorts have a built in swim diaper with elastic legs, so no need to put anything on underneath.

Since this is our first swim shirt and shorts with sun protection, I have nothing to compare it to, but for us it's now a tried and true brand. They also sell skinz for men and women, sun hats for children and adults, and some outdoor sun shade protection tents with a UPF!

Buy it: Visit UV Skinz to buy all sorts of great sun protection gear for your whole family

Win it: UV Skinz is generously giving one of our readers and UV Skinz item of their choice! Perhaps you'd like to try a swim shirt for your little one, or maybe a sun hat for yourself! Go look around and check out all the great stuff you can choose from!

Rules: You must complete the mandatory entry for your additional entries to be valid. Please leave one separate comment for each entry (ie: if you get 2 entries then leave 2 separate comments, it's easier on me when counting). Please make sure you leave your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win!

Mandatory Entry

 (must be completed for your additional entries to be valid)

Visit UV Skinz and tell me what you would choose if you won!

Additional Entries

❤ Follow this blog publicly via google friend connect (1 entry)

❤ Become a fan of UV Skinz on Facebook! (1 entry)

❤ Become a fan of The Hip (Single) Mama's Facebook page (formerly Le Petit Owlet) (1 entry)
❤ Follow on @uvskinz Twitter (1 entry) 

❤ Follow @lepetitowlet on Twitter (1 entry)

❤ Sign up for the UV Skinz monthly newsletter (1 entry) 

❤ Put my new button on your blog! (2 entries, leave a link)

❤ Follow The Cloth Diaper Revolution's blog and become a fan on Facebook (2 separate entries, leave 2 separate comments!)
❤ Tweet about the giveaway "Keep your kids covered with @uvskinz. Win a swim shirt, shorts, or hat @lepetitowlet! http://bit.ly/dakvif " (2 tweets per day)

Contest will end on June 17th, 2010 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and

announced on or around June 18th, 2010

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.